Hand Catching Lead

Richard Serra

Hand Catching Lead is the first in a series of films done by Richard Serra in the 60s, in which the protagonists are hands – followed by Hand Lead Fulcrum (1968), Hands Scraping (1968), Hands Tied (1968) and Frame (1969). During this period, Serra was an avid fan of the Judson Theatre and Yvonne Rainer, especially of her Hand Movie (1966) — made during a hospital stay — which is evident in this work. However, while Rainer’s film explores the gestures that create a complex choreography, Hand Catching Lead emphasizes the mechanical repetition of a simple and aimless action.